It’s been a year of controversy for the police.

Fresh off a debate over New York City’s controversial “stop and frisk” technique, the national news has been rocked by a series of police brutality cases. The controversies have started a new debate over the role of the police and, in at least one instance, provoked widespread demonstrations.

Here are five cases of police brutality that made headlines this year.

 

Michael Brown

The most famous, or notorious, cop controversy from 2014 is the death of unarmed teenager Michael Brown. Brown was shot dead by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri on August 9.

Ferguson police claim that Brown shoved the officer back into a car and continued to struggle with him. Brown then reached for the officer’s firearm, and the officer started shooting.

That account is contradicted by a number of eyewitnesses, all of whom tell the same essential story. Brown and the officer did struggle, but Brown never entered the police car. There was a struggle between the officer and Brown, but Brown never tried to grab the officer’s weapon. A shot was fired, Brown broke free and took off down the sidewalk, and was quickly shot dead.

The incident touched off angry protests and riots in Ferguson, leading to the arrests of at least 47 people, including two journalists. Police have been using tear gas and rubber bullets to clear rowdy streets. Despite being shot, Brown had no criminal record and was planning to attend technical school.

Ezell Ford

On Monday, police conducted an “investigative stop” in Southern Los Angeles. A struggle ensued between police and a man later identified as 24-year-old Ezell Ford. Police claim that Ford tried to reach for an officer’s gun and shots were fired. Ford was rushed to a hospital where he later died.

According to his mother, Ford suffered from mental problems which were known to the Los Angeles Police.

Eric Garner

Despite Mayor Bill de Blasio’s pledge to heal relations between city police and minority communities, one of the most stunning instances of police brutality in New York City happened just last month.

Eric Garner was caught allegedly selling untaxed cigarettes on Staten Island. Garner raised his hands in the air, but police restrained him and one officer put him in a chokehold. Video was later dispersed that showed Garner suffocating and saying repeatedly, “I can’t breathe!” He later died.

There was some uncertainty over whether Garner was killed by the chokehold itself. That was put to rest by the release of the medical examiner’s report this month, which identified the chokehold as the cause of death. The NYPD has been prohibited from using chokeholds for twenty years.

Jarod Dotson

Knox County Police responded to a house party at the University of Tennessee that had allegedly gotten out of hand. According to police, Dotson refused repeated requests to reenter the house and began to resist when officers tried to arrest him. Officer Frank Phillips then approached Dotson and choked him until he fell to his knees.

The county later dropped all charges against Dotson and Phillips was fired from the squad.

John Crawford

Crawford was shopping at a Walmart in Beavercreek, Ohio when he was shot dead by police. The officers believed Crawford was carrying a rifle that he intended to shoot. There’s just one problem: according to eyewitnesses and Crawford’s family members, the rifle was actually a BB gun that Crawford had picked up off a Walmart shelf. Crawford’s cousin said that Crawford doesn’t own a real gun.

Crawford’s family is eagerly awaiting the release of video surveillance footage from the store, which they claim will vindicate Crawford.